 | [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes |  |
MAN BELIEVES THE STRONG.
Oh! in this world, where all is fair and bright,
Save human wickedness and human pride,
Marring what else were lovely to the sight,
It is a truth that may not be denied,
However deeply we deplore the wrong,
Man hath believed, and still believes the strong.
Save human wickedness and human pride,
Marring what else were lovely to the sight,
It is a truth that may not be denied,
However deeply we deplore the wrong,
Man hath believed, and still believes the strong.
When injured and defenceless woman stands,
Haply the child of innocence or youth,
And lifts to heaven her pleading voice and hands
In all the moving eloquence of truth,
Who will believe, in that most trying hour,
Her words who is not strong in wealth or power?
Haply the child of innocence or youth,
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In all the moving eloquence of truth,
Who will believe, in that most trying hour,
Her words who is not strong in wealth or power?
Or let the slave, of all on earth bereft,
Stand up to plead before a human bar;
And though the fetters and the lash have left
Upon his limbs the deep-attesting scar,
Who trusts his tale, or who will rise to save
From wrong and injury the outcast slave?
Stand up to plead before a human bar;
And though the fetters and the lash have left
Upon his limbs the deep-attesting scar,
Who trusts his tale, or who will rise to save
From wrong and injury the outcast slave?
If a poor, friendless criminal appear,—
A criminal which men themselves have made,
By the injustice and oppression here,—
Who to pronounce him “guilty” is afraid?
But who, if rank or wealth were doomed thereby,
Would speak that final word as fearlessly?
A criminal which men themselves have made,
By the injustice and oppression here,—
Who to pronounce him “guilty” is afraid?
But who, if rank or wealth were doomed thereby,
Would speak that final word as fearlessly?
Oh, where so much of wrong and sorrow are,
There must be need of an unfaltering trust
In His all-seeing watchfulness and care,
Whose ways to man below we know are just;
In Him, whose love has numbered every tear
Wrung from his weak, defenceless creatures here.
There must be need of an unfaltering trust
In His all-seeing watchfulness and care,
Whose ways to man below we know are just;
In Him, whose love has numbered every tear
Wrung from his weak, defenceless creatures here.
And there is need of earnest, full belief,
And patient work, to bring that holier day
When there shall be redress for humblest grief,
And equal right and justice shall have sway;
And we will strive, in trustfulness sublime,
Hoping our eyes may see the blessed time!
And patient work, to bring that holier day
When there shall be redress for humblest grief,
And equal right and justice shall have sway;
And we will strive, in trustfulness sublime,
Hoping our eyes may see the blessed time!
| [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes | |